Biography
Dr. Andrew Bobilya currently serves as Professor and Program Director of the Masters
in Experiential and Outdoor Education (EOE) program while also continuing to teach
in the undergraduate Parks and Recreation Management (PRM) program at WCU. Andrew's
background includes serving as a field instructor, trainer and program manager for
various summer camp, wilderness and outdoor adventure programs. He is a former instructor
with the North Carolina Outward Bound School and continues to engage in research and
evaluation projects connected with Outward Bound. Andrew is also a Certified Outdoor
Educator through the Wilderness Education Association (WEA) and continues to offer
WEA courses through the EOE and PRM programs. He has served in various roles at industry
assocations and publications including the Board of Directors of the Association for
Experiential Education (AEE) (2005-2012) and as the Editor-in Chief of the <i>Journal
of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership</i> (2010-2018). Andrew's current
research interests include wilderness solitude, autonomous student experiences, the
human nature relationship, spirituality and outdoor programming, and college student
transition programs. Andrew has received the Association for Experiential Education's
Servant Leader Award (2013), the Western Carolina University College of Education
and Allied Professions Legislative Teaching Award (2017) and Dean's Research Award
(2017), the Wilderness Education Association's Outdoor Educator of the Year (2018).
He also is a founder and Director of Training and Education at 2nd Nature TREC (Training,
Research, Education and Consulting) where they come alongside existing programs to
help them become better at what they do. Andrew enjoys spending time with his family
and friends, moments of adventure, exploring natural landscapes and the related personal
spiritual journey.
Teaching Interests
<b>Recent Graduate Courses Taught:</b><br>Current Trends and Issues in Experiential
and Outdoor Education (EOE 601)<br>Research Methods in Experiential and Outdoor Education
(EOE 503)<br>Philosophy and Theory of Experiential and Outdoor Education (EOE 501)<br>Foundations
of EOE (EOE 500) <br><br><b>Recent Undergraduate Courses Taught:</b><br>Camp Counseling
(PRM 313)<br>Introduction to Outdoor Pursuits (PRM 254)<br>Wilderness Education –
Summer Travel Course (PRM 427)<br>Survey of Outdoor Adventure Activities (PRM 224)<br>Expedition
Management and Leadership (PRM 454)<br>Administration and Leadership of Outdoor Pursuits
(PRM 454)<br>Program Planning and Evaluation (PRM 361)<br>Mini Internship in Parks
and Recreation (PRM 383)<br>Capstone Internship in Parks and Recreation Management
(PRM 483/484)
Research Interests
<b>Recent Publications:</b><br>Robertson, P., Graves, E., Bobilya, A. J., Murdock,
T., Brotherton, D., & Hunter, S. (2020) An exploratory study of the benefits of a
three-week cycling expedition for potential first-generation college students. <i>Journal
of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership, 12</i>(4), 409-416.<br><i> </i><br>Hines,
E., Daniel, B. & Bobilya, A. J. (2020). Environmental views of the Eastern Band of
Cherokee Indians. <i>Ecopsychology, 12</i>(2), 118-127.<br><br>Meltzer, N. W., Bobilya,
A. J., Mitten, D., Faircloth, W. B., & Chandler, R. (2020). An investigation of moderators
of change and the influence of the instructor on outdoor orientation program participants’
biophilic expressions. <i>Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education, </i><i>23</i>,
207-224.<br><br>McCole, D., Bobilya, A. J., Holman, T. & Lindley, B. (2019). Benefits
of summer camp: What do parents value? <i>Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education
and Leadership, 11</i>(3), 239-247. <br><br>Meltzer, N. W., Bobilya, A. J., Faircloth,
W. B., Mitten, D. & Chandler, R. (2018) The effect of an outdoor orientation program
on participants biophilic expressions. <i>Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education,
21</i>(2), 187-205. <br><br>Bobilya, A. J., & Faircloth, W. B. (2017). Exploring course
outcomes utilizing a new Outward Bound outcomes instrument. <i>Research in Outdoor
Education, 15</i>, 114-136.<br><i> </i><br>Rude, W. J., Bobilya, A. J., & Bell, B.
J. (2017). An investigation of the connection between outdoor orientation, campus
involvement, sense of community, and thriving. <i>Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education
and Leadership, 9</i>(2), 197-216. <br><br>Faircloth, W. B. & Bobilya, A. J., & Ewert,
A. W. (2016). The North Carolina Outward Bound School Course Impression Survey: A
psychometric investigation. <i>Research in Outdoor Education, 14</i>, 1-20. <br><br>Bobilya,
A. J., Kalisch, K. R., Daniel, B. & Coulson, E. (2015). An investigation of participant’s
intended and actual transfer of learning following an Outward Bound wilderness experience.
<i>Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership, 7</i>(2), 93-111.<i> </i><br><br>Bobilya,
A. J., Kalisch, K., & Daniel, B. (2014). Participants’ perceptions of their Outward
Bound final expedition and the relationship to instructor supervisory position. <i>Journal
of</i> <i>Experiential Education, 37</i>(4), 397-414<i>. </i><br><br>Daniel, B., Bobilya,
A. J., Kalisch, K. R. & McAvoy, L. H. (2014). Autonomous student experiences in outdoor
and adventure education programming. <i>Journal of Experiential Education, 37</i>(1),
4-17.
